Improvement in corset-steels



C. S. CHAFFEE. Corset-Steels.

Patented Jan. 21,1873.

A AM PHOTU-UTIMGIMPHICLR 11.!(059010/53' mosses) UNITED STATES PATENTOFFIcE.

CHARLES S. CHAFFEE, OF BIRMINGHAM, CONNECTICUT, ASSI GNOR TO ROBERT N.BASSETT, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORSET-STEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,079, dated January21, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. CHAFFEE, of Birmingham, in the county ofNew Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement inCorset-Steels; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing and the letters of referencemarked thereon, to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same,and which said drawing constitutes part of this specification, andrepresents, in-

Figure 1, a front view of one of the steels, showing the center springshorter than the steel proper Fig. 2, a front view of the other steel,showing the center spring the full length of the steel proper; and inFig. 3, a central section enlarged. r

This invention relates to an improvement in what are known to the tradeas corset-steels, the object being to form each part from several stripsof steel or similar metal, whereby a better elasticity is attained thanin a single strip of steel of the same width and less liability tobreak. The invention consists in forming the steel from two or morestrips or wires to form the extreme edge, and these inclosed within acovering and distant from each other at the center, the covering whichincloses the springs extending across the space between the two, thisspace forming a recess for the reception of the center spring, as morefully hereinafter described.

I represent each steel as formed from three strips, a b c, denoted insolid black, Fig. 3. These springs may be formed from steel or othersuitable metal. The two outer springs V are inclosed in,a covering, (1,as denoted in tween the two-that is to say, the web is pressed so as tocome flush upon one side, leaving the recess upon the other. When theweb or central portion is thus pressed down it will be smooth upon thereverse side; but for convenience of illustration, in order to clearlyshow the covering as formed from a strip of fabric, in Fig. 3 thethickness of the fabric is magnified to such an extent that the reverseside appears woven. In Fig. 4 a covering is illustrated as woven orbraided for the purpose. Thus prepared, the material is cut to theproper length for the steels; then the third spring o is placed in thesaid recess, as seen in Fig. 3, and as denoted in solid black in Figs. 1and 2, and is there secured by the clasps A, or in other convenientmanner.

The third spring 0 may extend from end to end, as in Fig. 2, and becovered by the tip B at each end. In some classes of steels, how ever,it will be sufficient that it extend from the upper to the lower clasp,as in Fig. 1; or, if preferred, from one extreme end of the steel to theclasp nearest the other end.

While I prefer to make the steel from the three strips shown, the outerstrips or portions may be composed of two or more strips. Each part ofthe spring maybe covered in the usual manner of covering steel wireprior to their final covering; and in the use of a strip of fabric asthe covering, a preliminary covering of paper will be advantageous.

I do not wish to be understood as broadly claiming a corset-steelcomposed of several strips of metal; but

I claim as my invention A corset-stcel having the outer or edge portionsinclosed within a covering, the said cov eringforming a weblongitudinally through the space between the said outer portions,leaving a recess between the said edge portions into which the centerspring 0 is placed, substantially as described.

CHAS. S. CHAFFEE.

Witnesses:

S. M. GARDNER, J. M. GoULDrNe.

